Railway-switch.



I'. SMITH.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED 1111113, 1911.

1,01 1,08*?. i I Patented 1160.5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. SMITH.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLIoATIoN FILED FEB. s, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4" 77 ffy je o o A /7 7 :1h f5 3 NTED @TATES T FFlQE.

FREDERICK SMITH, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILwaY-sw'irorr.

roirosv.

Application filed February 3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in railway switches, and is especially an improvement upon my application bearing Serial Number 587688.

The objects of the invention are, to provide a switch which will be automatically closed by a train passing along the main track should said switch have been left open by negligence of the switchman upon the train using the siding, or a track walker examining the switch to see if the same is in proper working order. To provide a trip lever mounted relatively near the switch point, said trip lever being` set each time the switch point is opened by the track walker, and to provide means for preventing the setting of the trip lever when the switch is to be used for admitting a. train to the siding, said trip lever being set after the train has passed into the siding, wherein' the switch may be closed by the through train if it has been left open. The track walker during his inspection of the line, must operate the switches to see that the parts are workingl correctly and if the lights turn during the operation of the switch. This track walker is not a high salaried man and is often very poorly educated. This class of workmen, not being very careful, may walk away from the switch leavingl the same open, which would derail a train passing over the through track, but by my improved device, when the switch is open the trip lever is set so that said through train will close the switch before passing over it. Then a train is to enter the siding, this trip lever must remain unset to allow the switch point to stand open. In order to accomplish this I provide a means for dis-engaging the mechanism which sets the trip lever and this mechanism may be operated by the conductor or trackman when he opens the switch to permit his t-rain to pass into t-he siding, and

while the train is passing into the siding the trip lever will be set thereby, so that if the switch point remains open after the train has passed into the siding', it will be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Serial No. 606,333.

closed by the through train when it con tacts with the trip lever.

lVith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designa-ted by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may under-v stand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring byletter to the accompanying dra-wingforming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a plan view of the track, showing a siding leading therefrom and having` my improved switch mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2, a side elevation of a portion of the switch mechanism showing my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 3, aan enlarged perspective view, showing my imy proved means for locking and unlocking the trip lever mechanism, portions thereofv being broken away. Fig. 4, a side elevation of the lever catch. Fig. 5, a side elevation of the vertical bolt. Fig. 6, a similar view of the lever operated by the bolt shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7, a plan view thereof. Fig. 8, a side elevation of the lock and weightI4 and Fig. 9, a pla-n view thereof.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, (l) represents the main track, 2 the siding and 3 the switch point. To the switch point beneath the same is fastened a tube 4 by a screw or its equivalent 5, so that as said tubeis operated the switch point will move laterally with it for opening and closing the switch. The tube 4 and likewise that end of the switch point to which the tube is attached, is normally held closed by suitable resilient means specifically described in my previous application above referred to and not forming any part of this improvement.

On the outer end of the tube 4 is mounted a casing 6 having a vertical. opening 7 and a horizontal opening 8. In the vertical opening is mounted the sliding rod 9 having a beveled foot 10 and carrying a weight 11. Said rod is provided with a horizontal opening 12 and through this and the horizontal opening 8 in the casing, passes a switch rod 18, slidably mounted in a suitable bracket 14. To the outer end of the switch rod is pivoted a link 15, said link being attached to the switch lever 16, pivoted in the bracket 17, and when said switch lever has been used for opening the switch it contacts with a post 50, which prevents said switch lever from being accidentally thrown in the opposite direction and it remains in this position even though the switch has been automatically closed until it is again desired to open the switch.

The link 15 is shown as pivoted to the switch lever 16 at the proper point, for with the above insertion and the second paragraph on page 4, it will be seen that the free end of the switch lever 16 is moved toward the track, which will move the switch rod 13 inward until the member 9 regi-sters with the slot 18, then by again drawing the switch lever 16 to the position shown in the drawings, the switch point will be opened.

When the switch is tripped by the lever 29, the member 9 is disengaged from the notch 18 in the rod 13, permitting the switch point, the casing 6 and the tube 4 to slide longitudinally of the rod 13, whereby the switch point may be closed, but since the rod 13 remains stationary so will the link 15 and the switch lever 16.

When the switch lever 16 is operated the switch rod 13 will be moved longitudinally to open or close the switch, it being understood that the rod 9 is in engagement with the notch 18 of said switch rod. When the vertical rod 9 is disengaged from the notch 18 in the switch rod, the casing 6 and the tube 4 to which it is attached will be released, permitting the switch point to be closed.

19 is a holding member comprising a long strip conforming with the curvature of the siding, and is mounted adjacent one of the siding rails on the outside thereof. This holding member has connection with the rod 20 which passes beneath a bracket and has its end bent at right angles as at 21 to form an extension which normally rests in a vertical position.

With any movement upon the holding member 19, the rod 20 will be rotated, causing the extension 21 to engage the finger 22 of the catch 23, pivoted at 24 to a rotatable rod 25, forcing the nose 26 beneath the foot 10 of the rod 9.

To the opposite end of the rotatable rod 25 is mounted an arm 27, the upper end of which is attached to a cable 28, which cable is fastened to the trip lever 29 pivoted beside one of the rails at some suitable distance from the switch point.

From this description it will be seen that when the switch is opened the catch 23 is out of engagement with the foot 10 of the rod 9, therefore the trip lever 29 is unsetor rests below the surface of the rail, and when the siding is to be used the trip lever must remain unset until after the train is passed into said siding, and in passing, the weight of the train upon the holding member 19 will rotate the rod 2O causing the catch to pass beneath the foot 10 and as the lower surface of said foot is in a lower plane than the upper surface of the catch, the free end of said catch will be moved downward, rotating the rod 25, drawing the cable 28 longitudinally for setting the trip lever 29.

Should the switch point be opened and a train not use the siding, the trip lever 29 would remain unset so that a train passing over the main track would run into the open switch and to overcome this objection I have provided a means whereby the trip lever will be set unless the siding is to be used and the train to use said siding is near by waiting to pass therein. This mechanism I will now endeavor to explain in full.

30 is a vertical tube or casing having a central cavity 31, and through the tube passes an aperture 32 from which leads an extension 33 having a perforation 34. Upon the extension 33 rests a swinging lever 35 having a lug 36 which engages the perforation 34, the under side of one end of the swinging lever 35 is beveled outward and upward as at 37 to produce a fulcrum 38 at the point where the beveled portion and the straight edge meet. This beveled end passes through the aperture 32 in the casing 30and on top thereof rests abolt 39 havinga central reduced portion 40 engaged by the nose 41 of the catch 42 pivoted at 43 between the arms 44, formed integral with the casing 30. The outer end of the catch 42 is preferably longer than the inner end or nose, so that the weight of said outer end will keep the nose in contact with the bolt. lf found desirable, this catch might be inclosed in a casing and then provided with a longitudinal opening, whereby a handle or key could be engaged with the catch, to raise the same to disengage the nose from the bolt. At this point it would be well to state that this casing 30 is mounted, so that it will be in alinement with the switch lever 16 when drawn over adjacent said casing 30 and the bolt 39 must be of sufficient length to extend above the casing 30, whereby it may be depressed by the switch lever to raise the outer end of the swinging lever 35.

In the bracket 14 adjacent its lower end, is journaled a short shaft 45 having mounted on one end a leg 46 which carries a weight 47 at its outer end, the leg 46 resting upon the upper surface of the swinging lever 35 at that end farthest removed from the vertical casing 30. On the opposite end of the short shaft 45 is mounted a locking member 48 which will engage the finger 22 of the catch 23 when said locking member is raised, and said locking member is raised by the rotating of the short shaft 45 when the end of the swinging lever 35 raises the weight, this end of the swinging lever being raised by the depression of the bolt 39. From this 3.--

description it will be seen that when the switch lever 16 is moved in the direction for closing the switch point, said switch lever will engage the outer end of the bolt S9, depressing the same causing the beveled end of the swinging lever 35 to be depressed, working upon its fulcrum 38 raising the outer end of said swinging lever, causing the weight 47 to be raised through the medium of the leg 46, at the same time rotating the short shaft 45 to impart an upward movement to the locking member 48, placing said locking member in engagement or back of the finger 22 of the catch 23 to prevent any lateral movement of the catch so that when the switch rod 1 with the tube 4 and the casing 6 is drawn away from the track to open the switch, t-he foot 10 will be drawn upon thecatch 23 causing the outer end of said catch to be depressed which will rotate the rod 25 and set the trip lever 29.

It is to be understood that during the foregoing operation the nose 41 of the catch 42 will have been brought into engagement with the reduced portion 40 of the bolt 39 to prevent the upward movement of said bolt 39 when the switch lever 16 is disengaged from the bolt. This prevents the switch point from being` opened after setting the trip lever 29, so that when a train is passing over the main track it will first come in contactwith the trip lever to close the switch, permitting it to pass along the main track without being derailed at the switch point.

If it is desired to pass a train into t-he siding the trip lever mustl remain unset and to permit this while the switch point is being opened, the outer end of the catch 42 is raised, disengaging its nose 41 from the reduced portion 40 of the bolt 39, permitting said bolt to rise as soon as the switch lever 16 is disengaged therefrom, and when said switch lever is disengaged from the bolt, and the catch is held out of engagement with said bolt, the weight 47 will draw the outer end of the swinging lever 35 downward, permitting the locking member 48 to be dropped below the line of the lateral movement of the catch 28, then when the switch rod 15 with the tube and the csaing 6 are moved away from the track to open the switch point, the foot 10 will move the catch 23 laterally, pre-venting the free end of said catch from being depressed which would set the trip lever. When in this position, the train passes to the siding and in so doing depresses the holding member 19, causing the rod 20 to be rotated, which will cause the extension 21 thereof to force the nose 26 of the catch 23 beneath the foot 10. In so doing the rod 25 is rotated to set the trip lever as hereinbefore stated, so that if a train passing over the main track contact-s with the trip lever, the rotatable rod 25 will raise the free end of the catch 23, doing likewise with the foot 10 and the rod 9, to disengage said rod from the notch 18 in the switch rod 13, ermitting the switch point to be closed.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as here shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what- I claim as new and useful is- 1. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said' rod for normally fo-rcing it downward, a switch rod having a notch therein for engagement with the sliding rod, passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track, adapted to be engaged by the wheel of ay train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, and means for preventing the rotation of the catch whereby the foot may be brought into engagement with the catch, said engagement causing the catch to be depressed.

2. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod having a notch therein for engagement with the sliding rod, passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main tra-ck, adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, and means for preventing the rotation of said catch away from the foot.

3. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod having a notch therein for engagement with the sliding rod, passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track, adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, a locking member for preventing the rotation of the catch away from the foot, and means for removing said locking member out of alinement of the rotation of the catch.

4c. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod having a notch therein for engagement with the sliding rod, passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track, adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, and a locking member adapted to prevent the rotation of the catch away from the foot.

5. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod having a notch therein for engagement with the sliding rod, passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track, adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for operating the locking member to bring it in engagement with the catch to prevent the rotation of said catch away from the foot, and means for removing said locking member from engagement with the catch.

6. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot,'said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, a short shaft journaled at a suitable point, a locking member carried by one end of said short shaft adapted to be moved into engagement with the catch to prevent its rotation away from the foot, and a weight carried by the opposite end of the short shaft, whereby the locking member may be disengaged from the catch.

7. ln a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track, and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, a short shaft journaled at a suitable point, a locking member carried by one end of the short shaft, a leg secured to the opposite end of the short shaft, a body carried by said leg for normally holding the locking member out of engagement with the catch, and means engaging the leg for bringing the locking member in contact with the catch to prevent its movement away from the foot.

S. n a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein, having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, a short shaft journaled at a suitable point, a looking member carried by one end of the short shaft, a leg secured to the opposite end of the short shaft, a body carried by said leg for normally holding the locking member out of engagement with the catch, a vertical casing provided with a bolt opening and having an aperture passing through the lower portion thereof in communication with the bolt opening, an extension formed with the casing adjacent the aperture, said extension having a perforation therein, a swinging lever provided with a lug adapted to register with the perforation when said lever is resting upon the extension, said lever having its Linder side beveled upward toward the end, producing a fulcrum to the rear of the lug, said beveled end passing through the aperture in the casing, the opposite end resting beneath the leg, and a bolt slidably mounted in the casing and resting upon the beveled end of the swinging lever for raising the same to place the locking member in engagement with the catch.

9. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tubo movable laterally of the track, and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rodvertically slidably mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the foot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, a short shaft journaled at a suitable point, a locking member carried by one end of the short shaft, a leg secured to the opposite end of the short shaft, a body carried by said leg for normally holding the locking member out of engagement with the catch, a vertical casing provided with a bolt opening and having an aperture passing through the lower portions thereof in communication with the boltl opening, an extension formed with the casing adjacent the aperture, said extension having a perforation therein, a swinging lever provided with a lug adapted to register with the perforation when said lever is resting upon the extension, said lever having its under side beveled upward toward the end, producing a fulcrum to the rear of the lug, said beveled end passing hrough the aperture in the casing, the opposite end resting beneath the leg, a bolt provided with a reduced portion, slidably mounted in the casing and resting upon the beveled end of the swinging lever, and a pivoted catch, the nose of which engages the reduced portion of the bolt to prevent an upward movement of said bolt.

l0. In a railway switch t-he combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track, and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically `slidably mounted therein, having a foot formed therewith, a weight mounted upon said rod for normally forcing it downward, a switch rod passing through the casing, a switch lever, a link for connecting the switch lever with the switch rod, a rotatable rod, an arm connected thereto, a trip lever mounted beside the main track adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a train, a cable for connecting said trip lever with the arm carried by the rotatable rod, a catch pivoted to the opposite end of said rotatable rod, adapted to engage the under side of the toot, said catch adapted to rotate about the pivot point or to be raised by the depression of the trip lever, means for forcing the catch beneath the foot, a short shaft journaled at a suitable point, a locking member carried by one end of the short shaft, a leg secured to the opposite end of the short shaft, a body carried by said leg for normally holding the locking member out of engagement with the catch, a vertical casing provided with a bolt opening and having an aperture passing through the lower portions thereof in communication with the bolt opening, an extension formed with the casing adjacent the aperture, said extension having a perforation therein, arms formed with the casing, a swinging lever provided with a lug adapted to register with the perorations when said lever is resting upon the extension, said lever having its under side beveled upward toward the end, producing a ulcrum to the rear of the lug, said beveled end passing through the aperture in the casing, the opposite end resting beneath the leg, a bolt provided with a reduced portion, slidably mounted in the casing and resting upon the beveled end of the swinging lever, and a catch pivoted between the arms formed with the casing, the nose of said catch adapted to co-act with the reduced portion of the bolt to normally prevent an upward movement of said bolt.

1l. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally oi' the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, said rod and foot being Vnormally held downward by gravity, a

switch rod passing through the casing and adapted to be engaged by the sliding rod, means for operating said switch rod, a trip lever mounted beside the track and normally remaining unset, a pivoted catch mounted adjacent the foot of the sliding rod, means for connecting the trip lever and said catch, and a locking member adapted to prevent the lateral movement of said pivoted catch to cause the setting of the trip lever when the foot of the sliding rod engages said catch.

12. In a railway switch the combination of the main track and the switch point thereof, a tube movable laterally of the track and attached to the switch point, a casing attached to the tube, a rod vertically slidably mounted therein having a foot formed therewith, said rod and foot being normally held downward by gravity, a switch rod passing through the casing and adapted to be engaged by the sliding rod, means for operating said switch red, a trip lever mounted beside the track and normally remaining unset, a pivoted catch mounted adjacent the foot of the sliding rod, means for connecting the trip lever and said catch, a locking member normally lying beneath the line of movement of the catch, said locking member when raised adapted to prevent the lateral movement of said catch, thereby permitting said catch to be engaged by the foot of the sliding rod so that said catch will be depressed and set the trip lever, and means for causing said catch to be forced beneath the foot of the sliding rod if the locking member is below the line of movement of the catch when the switch point is opened.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aiiiXed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK SMITH. Witnesses:

HARRY I-IOBDELL, Monms L. KoLB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

